Global History in 2016: More; Less; Better; Worse Quiz

Answer: Iran

Because Iran used chemical warfare weapons against Iraq in the 1980s, the international community were very nervous about its capability to manufacture nuclear based weapons of mass destruction. This intensified when the International Atomic Energy Agency found highly purified uranium when inspecting Iran's military and infrastructure facilities. Sanctions by the UN, EU and other trading nations were imposed which crippled that economy.

However with increasing levels of cooperation with IAEA, Iran was able to demonstrate that nuclear capability was dismantled by January 16.

A few minutes later, all sanctions were removed by the UN.

Answer: Mosquito bite

First discovered in the Zika Valley in Uganda in 1947, Zika fever was limited to small equatorial pockets in Africa and Asia. In 2016 there was an outbreak that affected Pacific nations (including the US and South America) and Pacific islands.
Zika Virus infection is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. It is transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes. Infections are usually a milder form of symptoms seen in dengue fever. The symptoms can lessen with intake of paracetamol. However when a mother transfers the virus to her unborn baby, microcephaly and other birth defects occur. Zika infections in adults rarely cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, but some cases were reported in 2016.
Zika virus can be spread from person to person via sexual contact but this is rare and is also a secondary route of transmission: It is not the primary mode of infection.

Answer: Brussels

On March 22, there were three linked suicide bombings which occurred in Brussels: two at Brussels Airport at Zaventem, and one in the city centre at Maalbeek metro station. Three suicide bombers were killed and the remaining two evaded capture for some days.

These men were linked to the Paris bombings in October the previous year. A total of twelve men were arrested and charged. Belgium declared three days of mourning after its deadliest terrorist attack.

Answer: David Cameron

Most observers expected the United Kingdom to remain in the EU after its referendum. However the result was unexpected when the "Leave" campaign "won". Some people including many Britons asked "What just happened?" Prime Minister David Cameron resigned when he made the exit announcement as he believed he was not the right person to lead the exit strategy.

Theresa May was subsequently appointed as Prime Minister. Boris Johnson led the Leave campaign.

Answer: Solar powered airplane

Solar Impulse 2 became the first solar powered aircraft to circumnavigate the earth. It was the brainchild of Swiss engineer Andre Borschberg and Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist Bertrand Piccard. (Dr Piccard was the pilot of the first balloon to circumnavigate the earth non-stop).

The single seater left Abu Dhabi on 9 March 2015, expecting to return 12 months later. The batteries were damaged badly in Asia, taking months to repair but on 28 July, 2016 Solar Impulse 2 returned to Abu Dhabi being the first solar powered fixed wing aircraft to have circumnavigated the globe.

Answer: China and USA

The Paris Agreement sits within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The wording of the agreement was agreed to by representatives of 195 countries at the annual conference in December 2015 and was opened for signature on Earth Day 2016 (April 22).

While 194 countries signed the agreement, not all ratified it, putting the program in jeopardy. China and USA both signed eventually on September 3, causing other countries including many EU members to follow suit. By November 2, 132 countries had signed the agreement, enough for the agreement to enter into force.

The signatures of the representatives of China and the US were pivotal providing a tipping point in the process.

Answer: An asteroid in the Asteroid Belt

According to NASA's own release material, OSIRIS-REx "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx)" is a NASA asteroid study and sample return mission".

A sample and return mission is where extraterrestrial material is brought back to Earth for analysis. Apollo 11 was the first such successful mission when it brought back rock samples from the moon.

The launch of OSIRIS-REx, according to NASA is "expected to ...learn more about the time before the birth of the Solar System, initial stages of planet formation, and the source of organic compounds that led to the formation of life".

An acronym OSIRIS was chosen as the ancient mythological Egyptian god Osiris is the underworld lord of the dead. Bennu is an asteroid that may threaten Earth. Should it hit the consequences will be enormous and dire.

Answer: North Korea

These nuclear tests consisted of sending nuclear missiles into the ocean to determine how far they could really travel. From the fifth test, "The Guardian" quoted the Japanese authorities that stated the nuclear yield was "equivalent to around 10 kilotons of TNT, generating about a 5.3 magnitude seismic shock". That's a small earthquake. The Korean neighbours to the
south called it "maniacal recklessness" according to CNN. Given North Korea's lack of transparency and accountability to other nations of the world, this was a worrying event.

Answer: Van Gogh

These paintings were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in 2002. They were recovered by police in Naples in Italy, 14 years later. The paintings were in good order. When stolen they were valued at $US30 million. After they were recovered they were valued at $US100 million. The thieves were never determined.
This was the second theft from this gallery. In 1991, 35 paintings were stolen. All were recovered the same day but three were badly damaged. An inside job, four men were sentenced to terms of six years and more.

Answer: Ebola

Scientists in the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg developed recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV-ZEBOV) which is an experimental vaccine for protection against Ebola virus disease. Side effects are minor however there is no information at the time of the scientific publication on how long the vaccine would last. 800 people who were at risk were inoculated with the vaccine despite clinical trials not being finalised.

As the Ebola outbreak is now under control, this vaccine may never be needed.

However should another outbreak recur...